Stanchion.



J. S. GABRIEL.

STANCHION.

APPLICATION FIlED OCT. 4. 19H.

Patented Feb.12,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1| INVENTOR Jgw J WW /M WITNESSES ATTORNEY J. S. GABRIEL.

STANCHION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, 19!?- Pateuted; Feb. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

|NVENTO.R mm flaw/W ATTORNEY :rosnrn s. GABRIEL, or RICE LAKE, WISCONSIN.

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Application filed October 4, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrrr S. GABRIEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Rice Lake, in the county of Barronand State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stan chions, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention relates to stanchions, and more particularly to a cow stanchion the yoke of which is composed of two hingedly connected neck bars movable toward and away from each other so as to inclose the animals neck.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a stanchion of simple construction and operation which is so mounted as to be freely rotatable about a vertical axis thus permitting the animal to move its head with ease. A further object is to pro vide simple and efiicient means for locking the stanchion in closed or operative position. Another object is to provide means whereby a series of stanchions may be released by a single operation simultaneously or the stanchions of the series maybe released independently of each other, this means being also adapted to hold one of the locking members for the stanchion in position for en gagement with the other locking member. A still further object is to provide a stanchion so mounted as to be easily adjustable in either direction laterally in accordance with the width of the .stall in connection with which it is used. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the. drawings:

Figure l is a front view of two stanchions and the locking and supporting means therefor constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a section on line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view ofthe mounting for the lower end ofthe stanchion.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View of the lower end of the stanchion.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the locking block and the parts associated therewith.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented see. as, rare. Serial No. 194,734.

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken in a plane at a right angle to Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the looking and releasing lever.

A plurality of supporting posts or standards 1 are mounted in spaced relation on the curb 2 of the stalls. An anchor 3 is secured in the concrete of the curb, and is provided with a central stub i which fits snugly into the lower end of post 1. A sectional securing clamp 5 is secured about the lower portion of the post and is provided, at its lower end, with an inverted frusto-conical socket which receives an inverted frusto-conical head 6 of anchor 3. By this means, the post is ri 'idly secured to the curb 3, but may be quickly and easily released when desired. A sectional clamp 7 is secured about the post a short distance above the center thereof. The clamps 5 and 7 are each provided with pairs of diametrically opposite ears which serve to support the downwardly and inwardly inclined stop bars 8, these bars projecting a sufficient distance laterally of the post to prevent passage of a cow between the same and the yoke 9 of the stanchion. A supporting bar 10 of polygonal cross section is secured to the upper ends of posts 1 by means of sectional clamps 11 secured on the upper ends of the posts and inclosing the rod so as to secure it properly in posi tion. Each of the clamps 11 is provided, on its upper end, with an extension 11 having a central bore for slidably receiving a trip rod 12 mounted above the bar 10. By this construction, the supporting structure for the stanchion may be quickly and easily assembled or set up.

The yoke 9 of the stanchion is composed of the two rectangular or L-shape neck bars 13 which are oppositely directed and are hingedly secured together at their lower ends, as at 14. A securing plate 15 is mounted at the center of the hinge 14 of the yoke, each yoke bar being rounded adjacent each end of this plate so as to prevent interference with the upper portion of the yoke. Plate 15 is provided, on its under face, with a downwardly extending lug 16 of substantially conical shape. The lower end of this lug is apertured to receive the upper link of a short chain 17 the lower link of which is secured" through the eye at the upper end of an eye-bolt 18. This bolt is passed through alined bores in the over-lapping disks 19 and 20 formed at the inner ends of the adjusting plates 21 and 22, respectively, the lower end of the bolt being counter-sunk into disk 20. A short tube 23 is interposed between the plate 15 and disk 19. This tube serves to support the yoke, while the connection between the yoke and the adjusting plate is such as to permit free rotation of the yoke in either direction.

Two sectional clamp blocks 24 are secured on red 10 above the yoke 9 and equi-distant from the center thereof. Each of these blocks is provided with a downwardly projecting bolt 25 fixedly secured therein. The under face of each block 24 plane or smooth and coiiperates with the upper face of an adjusting and securing plate 26 mounted thereon, this plate being centrally slotted to receive the shank of bolt 25, and a securing nut 27 being threaded on the bolt beneath the plate. Each of the plates 26 is provided, at its inner end, with the integral offset disk 28, these disks being mounted in overlapping relation and provided with An eye-bolt 29 is secured through the disks 28, the eye at the lower end of this bolt receiving a coiiperating eye at the upper end of an eye-bolt 30, the two bolt being thus secured together so as to form a supporting bolt for the locking block 31. This block is slidably mounted on the bolt 30, and is normally held in raised posi.-- tionby a locking mechanism to be later disclosed. A thick disk 32 is mounted on the eye-bolt 30 adjacent the lower end of block 31. The upper face of this disk is recessed to receive the lower reduced neck 33 of the block 31, this neck being provided with an annular groove 34 which receives the set screws 35 threaded through the disk 32. By this means, the disk is connected to block 31 so as to have free rotation inclependently thereof. Connecting links 36 are pivotally secured at their upper ends in the disk 32 at diametrically" opposite points. These links pass through slots 37 in the neck bars 13 and-have their lower endspivotally secured between the spaced ears 38 formed integral with the bars. By this means, when the locking block 31 is raised, the neck bars will be moved toward each other so as to close the yoke and secure it in closed position, the yoke being opened when the locking block is lowered. Also, the yoke i so connected to the locking block at its upper end as to be freely rotatable, this connection thus cotiperating with the securing means at the lower end of the yoke to permit free rotation of the yoke in either direction.

The lockin block 31 is provided with a radially extending and downwardly curved locking finger 39. This finger coiiperates with a hook 40 for normally securing the blockin raised position. This hook is pivotally secured in one end of a locking and releasing lever 41 provided with an eye 42 which fits loosely about bolt 29, this eye resting on the eye at the lower end of the bolt, the lever being thus mounted on the bolt for rocking movement. The other end portion of lever 41 is curved downwardly and is .pivotally secured, as at 43 to an angular oper: ating lever 44. The inner end of this lever i pivotally'secured in the locking block 31 diametrically opposite to finger 39. A suitable weight 45 is secured to the outer end of lever 44, this weight servingto normally hold the lever depressed and also providing means whereby the lever may be-readily gripped for operatmg purposes. hook 40 is extended, and is directed upwardly and outwardly so as to tend to swing the hook nwardly and downwardly so as to bring it into locking engagement with The downward movement of finger 39. shank 46 of the hook is limited by a trip stop 47 which is secured onthetrip rod 12. This stop is so adjusted that, when the yoke is open and the locking block 31 is The shank 46 of in its lowermost position, the hook 40 will be so positioned as to be engaged by the' upper rounded surface of finger 39 when the block is raised, the hook being thus forced outward and then being moved inward and downward so as to engage under the finger,

for which purpose the bill of the hook is of arcuate shape as shown. By raising the outer end of operatlng lever 44 the locking and releasing lever 41 wlll be rocked soas to move. hook 40 out of engagement with l1 finger 39 thusreleasing lock 31 and opening the yoke 9. This same result may be accomplished by shifting the trip rod 12 longi- V t-udinally so as to bring the stop 47'into engagement with the shank 46 of the hook,

for which purpose one end of the rod is pivotally secured to a trip lever 48 pivotally mounted on one of the standards 1.

By this means, all of the yokes comprising a serle may be released slmultaneously by "7 a single operation, or one or more of the yokes may be opened without in any way interfering with the remaining yokes.

The neck bars 13 of yoke 9 are braced and guided by a guide head 49 secured on'the bolt 30. This head is provided with the lat 7 erally disposed slots 50 which receive the connecting links 36, and the laterally extending arcuate guide arms 51 which fit snugly through suitable openings in the neck bars, these guide arms. being curved on an arc struck from the center of the hinge of the yoke. Thelinks 36 serve to effectually prevent any appreciable lateral'play of the guide head, while the arms 51 serve to guide and brace the neck bars during their movement from closed to open position, andvice versa. This insures accurate operation of the yoke during the closing or opening thereof, the guide head 49 also acting to positively limit the downward movement of locking block 31.

The lower adjusting plate 21 is provided with a central longitudinal slot which receives an anchor bolt 52 secured in the curb 2. This bolt serves to secure an adjusting block 53 mounted beneath plate 21 in engagement with the underface of the plate so as to adjust the same. As will be noted more clearly-from Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the underface of plate 21 is toothed or corrugated, the block 53 being shaped to correspond with the interior shape of the plate and being provided with upwardly directed lugs or teeth at each endwhich engage between the teeth of the plate, the block thus serving to lock the plate against longitudinal movement. Plate 22 is similarly secured against longitudinal movementby a block 54 through which is inserted a securing bolt 55, the bolt and block cooperating with the toothed u'nderface of the plate to lock the plate in longitudinal adjustment. Locking the plates 21 and 22 against longitudinal movement serves to firmly secure the yoke in adjustment longitudinally of the stall. By means of the two lower and the two upper adjusting plates, the yoke may be readily adjusted in either direction desired so as to be centered in relation to the stall in connection with which it is used. By this means, the size of a stall may be readily varied to accommodate the particular animal which is to be placed in the same. I

If it is desired to vary the effective length of the stall, this may be done by removing the nuts from bolts 52 and 55 and lifting plates 21 and 22 out of engagement with blocks 53 and 54, and loosening the nuts of bolts 25 so as to release plates 26 from engagement with blocks 24. This releases the yoke so that it may be moved longitudinally of the stall quickly and easily. Assuming that it is desired to shorten the length of the stall-the yoke is moved inward so as to move the aliner plates inward into the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, after which the plates are secured in position in the manner previously described. This renders it possible to quickly and easily vary the effective length of the stall to suit cows of diiferent sizes.

Each of the neck bars 13 is provided, a short distance from the upper end thereof, with a laterally directed plate 56 disposed at a right angle thereto. This plate is provided, in its outer end, with an arcuate recess 57 adapted to snugly receive the stop bar 8, engaging the stop bars so that, an animal entering the stall, will be forced to place its neck between the bars of the yoke, after which the yoke may be readily closed and secured in operative position in the manner previously described. By placing the looking hook and operating lever at the front of the stall, the yokes of the stanchion may be readily operated from the alley which passes in front in the stalls, thus eii'ectually eliminating all danger of a person securing the animal in the yoke being gored or otherwise injured. When it is desired to liberate the animals, it is only necessary to operate the trip lever 48 or, if it is desired to release only certain of the animals, this may be done by means of the operating lever 4A in the manner described.

It will be evident that there may be slight changes made in the construction and arrangement of the different parts of my in vention without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the s5 scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In cattle stanchions, a yoke comprising two neck bars hingedly secured together at their lower ends, a suspending bolt mounted above and at the center of said yoke, a lock- .ing block slidably mounted on the bolt, connections between the block and the yoke bars for moving said bars toward each other when the block is raised and away from each other when block is lowered, said block being provided with a locking element, and means carried by the suspending bolt for releasably securing the locking block in raised position.

2. In cattle stanchions, a yoke comprising two neck bars hingedly secured together at their lower ends, a suspending bolt mounted above and at the center of said yoke, a looking block slidably mounted on the bolt, connections between the block and the yoke bars for moving said bars toward each other when the block is raised and away from each other when the block is lowered, said block being provided with a locking element, and means carried by the suspending bolt and connected to the block for raising said block and releasably securing the same in raised position.

3. In cattle stanchions, a yoke comprising two neck bars hingedly secured together at their lower ends, a suspending bolt mounted above and at the center of said yoke, a locking block slidably mounted on the bolt, connections between the block and the yoke bars for moving said bars toward each other when the block is raised and away from each other when the block is lowered, said block being provided with an outwardly projecting locking finger, a lever loosely mounted intermediate its ends on said bolt for rocking movement, a locking hook carried bv the lever and adapted to engage said finger so as to secure the block in raised position, and means connected to the lever and block for raising said block and moving the hook into operative engagement with said finger, said means being adapted also to move the locking hook into inoperative position so as to release the locking block.

7 4-. In cattle stanchions, a yoke comprising two neck bars hingedly secured together at their lower ends, a suspending bolt mounted aloOVGand at the center of said yoke, a locking block slidably mounted on the bolt and having a downwardly curved locking finger, connections between the block and the yoke bars for moving said bars toward each other when the block is raised and away from each other when the block is lowered, a lever loosely mounted intermediate its ends on said bolt, a locking hook pivotally secured to one end of said lever in position for engagement with the locking finger when said block is raised, and an operating lever pivotally secured intermediate its ends to the otally secured at its inner end to the locking block so as to raise the same when the outer end of the operating lever is depressed.

5. In cattle stanchions, a yoke comprising two neck bars hingedly secured together at their lower ends, a suspending bolt mounted above and at the center of said yoke, a locking block slidably mounted on the bolt and having a downwardly curvedlocking finger, a disk secured to said block and having independent rotary movement, links pivotally secured at their upper ends to said disk and at their lower ends to the arrns of said yoke, and means for raising said block and for releasably securing it in raised position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. o

JOSEPH S. GABRIEL. Witnesses:

' JOHN PLENTY,

WM. P. BRADY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; 7 Washington, D. G. 7 7 

